This Time Wells Puts Heat On Texas

August 22, 1998|By JACK O'CONNELL; Courant Staff Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas — The comment Yankees manager Joe Torre made about David Wells Friday night said an awful lot about how far their relationship has come since the last time the Yankees were here in early May:

``He is serious when he's on the mound. He's a guy you can hang your hat on.''

Now, go back to May 5 and listen to what Torre said of Wells after the beefy lefthander tanked out after 2 2/3 innings on a hot, humid night,giving up seven runs in nearly blowing all of a nine-run lead:

``Maybe he's not in shape.''

That quote may have turned around Wells' season, though he won't admit it. All Wells would concede Friday after he pitched a 5-0, six-hitvictory over the Rangers was that he felt compelled to explain himself to Torre -- which he did in a closed-door meeting in Minneapolis several days later -- and that it felt good to get some differences squared away.

``I felt I had to get some things off my chest,'' said Wells, who won his eighth straight game in remaining undefeated through 10 starts since June 15. ``I don't like things to stay in a negative context.''

Wells, who pitched his sixth complete game and fourth shutout, still likes to stick his barrel of a chest way out, but Torre senses there is more beneath the swagger than the veteran pitcher cares to admit.

``I'd like to believe we learned some things about each other,'' Torre said. ``There's a sensitivity to him that he doesn't like to project, but it's there. I felt he needs to hear some positive things. Like last Sunday against Texas at Yankee Stadium. I told him I appreciated the way he busted his butt. He battled out there on a day when he didn't have his great stuff. That's the sign of a good pitcher.''

Wells' 16-2 record and 3.26 ERA show he is a good pitcher, but it's probably more than coincidence that his perfect game May 17 came about a week after his meeting with Torre.

The heat (93 degrees) and humidity (98 percent) at gametime Friday were typical for this time of year, but Wells seemed unaffected. Perhaps having Tim McClelland, who worked the plate in his perfect game, calling balls and strikes again may have given Wells a comfort zone.

Wells almost reverted to his irritating form when he snapped at McClelland after walking Mark McLemore to start the game. It was the first time in 114 innings that Wells walked the first batter of an inning.

``I thought it was a good pitch, but Tim said it was low,'' Wells said. ``I got caught up in the moment. When I came out the next inning, I apologized to him.''

That would have been unheard of three months ago. But it would have also been unheard of for Torre to allow Wells to play his heavy metal favorites on the clubhouse CD player. Yes, there has been compromise.

Double plays bailed out Wells in the first two innings, and he coasted after that. Only two runners got as far as second base. Wells was also backed by sufficient run support as the Yankees hit four home runs, two by Tino Martinez, all off starter Esteban Loaiza (1-3, 4.24 ERA).

Martinez lifted his RBI total to 101, marking the third straight year he has gone over 100, the first Yankees player to do so since Don Mattingly'sfour consecutive seasons from 1984-87.

Chuck Knoblauch and Derek Jeter, who combined on the two double plays, also homered. Knoblauch's 17th home run was also the 17th time he has led off a game in his career with a home run. Five have been this year, including May 5.

Jeter's home run was his 16th, equaling the team record for shortstops by Roy Smalley in 1982. Jeter also singled in the only Yankees run that did not come on a home run, in the seventh.

Weather conditions changed by the fifth with winds becoming heavy and light rain falling, none of which had any negative effect on Wells, who retired the last 10 batters he faced.

Early Exit For Knoblauch

Knoblauch was hit in the lower back by a pitch in the seventh and came out. . . . Bullpen coach Tony Cloninger went home to Lincoln County, N.C., to attend the funeral of his brother, Ray.

Bradley Called Up For Bullpen

The Yankees purchased the contract of Ryan Bradley, the top pitching prospect in the organization, from Triple A Columbus.

They made room for him on their 25-man roster by optioning pitcher Mike Buddie to Columbus and on the 40-man roster by shifting reliever Jeff Nelson (bulging disk, lower back) from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list.

He arrived Friday afternoon from Columbus uncertain if he would be activated. The Yankees made the decision about two hours before the game.

``That's fine with me. I never thought I'd be in a major league clubhouse this year, let alone on a big league club,'' said Bradley, who began the season at Class A Tampa and was being groomed as a closer because of an above-average fastball and forkball.

Minor league pitching instructors Billy Connors and Greg Pavlik taught him a slider, and the Yankees began using Bradley as a starter. He was 7-4 with a 2.38 ERA at Tampa in 32 games -- 11 starts -- with 112 strikeouts in 94 2/3 innings. In three appearances, all as a starter at Double A Norwich, Bradley was 2-0 with a 1.44 ERA. At Columbus, he was not involved in the decision of his only start, Aug. 14, the last time he pitched. Bradley allowed two earned runs, four hits and six walks and had three strikeouts in seven innings.